Get to know who we are, what we stand for, and how we support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties.
We help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—and their families—find the services they need to live well. From early support to help in adulthood, we’ll connect you with programs and resources that match your needs, interests, and goals, and support you throughout your entire life.
We’ll work closely with you to understand your goals and help you get the services you need. We’ll walk with you every step of the way, guide you through the process, and speak up for your needs—because you deserve to be seen, supported, and treated with care and respect.
Here you’ll find tools, guides, and helpful links to support your journey. Whether you’re just getting started or have been with us for years, these resources can help you learn more, prepare for meetings, and feel more confident making decisions.
The Self-Determination Program (SDP) is a different way to receive services through GGRC. It gives you more choice and control over the services and supports that you use to live an independent life.
About the Self-Determination Program
SDP is a program that gives you the responsibility and freedom to oversee your own budget and use community services, even if those services are not offered by traditional GGRC service providers. You still meet with your GGRC social worker to review your service needs and to develop your budget. You can also work with an “Independent Facilitator” (or “IF”) to help you manage your budget and find services in the community to meet your goals and interests.
The statewide Self-Determination Program adheres to the following principles to ensure those who participate have:
Freedom – You plan your own life and make your own decisions, just like people without disabilities are able to do.
Authority – You decide how money is spent for your services and supports.
Support – You pick the people and supports that will help you live, work, love and play in your community.
Responsibility – Your budget is funded by public money. You have the responsibility to use your budget wisely to purchase the services you want and need, while following SDP requirements.
Confirmation – As the decision maker of your life, you help coordinate the services that support you to have a valued role in your community.
The Self-Determination Program is open to individuals who:
Are eligible for regional center services
are age 3 and older*
live in a licensed long-term health facility or developmental center and plan to move into the community within 90 days
* In some cases, families in Early Start can use SDP services. Ask your social worker for more information if you are in Early Start and are interested in SDP.
If you want to participate in the SDP program, you must follow some requirements. Here are a few of those requirements:
Attend an SDP orientation
Willing to find your own services or work with an Independent Facilitator to find your services
Only purchase services that match your Individual Program Plan (IPP)
Only use SDP funds to purchase a service when generic resources are not available.
Willing to work with a Fiscal Management Service (FMS) to manage your budget funds
* Please note that not all FMS providers have the capacity to accept new referrals
Getting Started with SDP
To start, tell your GGRC social worker that you want to participate in SDP and participate in an SDP orientation. Learn more about the SDP orientation on the State Council for Developmental Disabilities website.
Once you and your social worker have talked about this program, your social worker can approve funding for you to work with a Person-Centered Planner outside of the regional center to work with you to develop a person-centered plan that will help with the next steps in starting SDP services.
If you have questions or want to learn more about SDP, we’re here to help. Email: sdp@ggrc.org
Office of the Self-Determination Program Ombudsperson
The Ombudsperson helps people served by regional centers, Self-Determination participants, and their families to understand and take part in the Self-Determination Program. They can answer questions, explain your options, and help resolve concerns.
Self Determination Local Advisory Committee (SDLAC)
The Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee is a group of volunteers who help guide and improve the Self-Determination Program at GGRC. The committee includes people who use regional center services, family members, as well as a representative from the State Council on Developmental Disabilties (SCDD).
SDLAC advises GGRC on topics such as:
Community outreach and education
Successes and challenges experienced by SDP participants
Feedback from individuals and families
New ideas and process improvements
Committee members are chosen by GGRC and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities Bay Area Office
Current SDLAC Members
Jennifer Walsh, Co-Chair/Self-Advocate
Sascha Bittner, Self-Advocate
Christine Kantor, Parent Advocate
Representative, Office of Clients; Rights Advocate – Attorney/Clients’ Rights Advocate
Alyson Sinclair, Parent Advocate
Barclay Lynn, Advocate
Ken Parekh, Co-Chair/Parent Advocate
Elizabeth Grigsby, GGRC Consumer Rights Advocate/Self-Advocate
Brenda Bachechi, Community Advocate
Sandy Chin, Parent Advocate
Aparna Kommineni, Advocate
Sheraden Nicholau, SCDD Advisor, State Council on Developmental Disabilities – Regional Manager, Bay Area Office
Interested in joining the committee?
Individuals with developmental disabilities, family members, advocates, and community members are encouraged to apply.
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