To be eligible for services from the Department of Developmental Services, you must have a disability that begins before your 18th birthday, be expected to continue indefinitely and present a substantial disability as defined in Section 4512 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code.
Eligibility is established through diagnosis and assessment performed by regional centers.
Self Determination Program Eligibility
To be eligible to the Self Determination Program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Have a developmental disability and currently be receiving services from a regional center or be a new consumer of a regional center;
- Be over the age of 3;
- Live at home, in the community, or in a group home;
- Agree to specific terms and conditions, which include participation in an orientation/training of Self Determination Program, working with a Financial Management Services entity, and managing Self Determination Program services within an individual budget amount.
If you live in a licensed long-term health care facility (i.e., a Skilled Nursing Facility, Intermediate Care Facility), you are not eligible to participate in the Self Determination Program. If you live in one of these facilities and are interested in the Self Determination Program, you can request that the regional center provide person-centered planning services in order to make arrangements for transition to the Self Determination Program, provided that you are reasonably expected to transition to the community within 90 days.
Self Determination is available to you if you meet these qualifications, regardless of your qualifying disability, race, education, income, or native language. In fact, the law specifically says that participants should reflect the diversity of their communities and that regional centers are directed to ensure that individuals from underserved communities are informed of the Self Determination Program.
If you have further questions about your eligibility to the Self Determination Program, please feel free to contact us.
