Glossary
Glossary of Key Terms
What SDP is and who runs it
Department of Developmental Services (DDS): The state agency that runs the developmental services system, funds regional centers, and sets the rules for SDP. (dds.ca.gov)
Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC): The Bay Area RC serving San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties. (ggrc.org)
Regional Center (RC): A nonprofit under contract with DDS that coordinates services for people with developmental disabilities and enrolls people in SDP. The Bay Area has three — GGRC, RCEB, and SARC.
Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB): The Bay Area RC serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties. (rceb.org)
San Andreas Regional Center (SARC): The Bay Area RC serving Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties. (sanandreasregional.org)
Self-Determination Program (SDP): A voluntary way to receive regional center services that gives you more choice and control. Instead of the regional center arranging your services, you help plan them and direct your own supports within a set budget. (dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/)
State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD): The state body that, among other things, runs the required SDP orientation. (scdd.ca.gov/sdp-orientation/)
The plans, budget, and people
Financial Management Service (FMS): The agency that manages the money in your budget — paying your providers, handling payroll and taxes for any staff you hire, and keeping records. Every SDP participant must use an FMS, and its cost is paid by the regional center outside your budget. (dds.ca.gov FMS contact list)
Independent Facilitator (IF): A person you can choose (and pay from your budget) to help you understand SDP, make a person-centered plan, build your budget and spending plan, find services, and speak up for your needs. Using an IF is optional.
Individual Budget: The total amount of regional center money you have each year to buy services and supports. It is usually based on what was spent on your services in the past 12 months and can be adjusted up or down if your needs change.
Individual Program Plan (IPP): The official plan you develop with your regional center that lists the services and supports you will receive. In SDP, your IPP reflects your person-centered plan and budget.
Orientation: A required information session (offered by SCDD) that you attend before you enroll. It explains how SDP works and what to expect. You can take it more than once. (scdd.ca.gov/sdp-orientation/)
Person-Centered Plan (PCP): A plan you and the people you choose create that describes your goals, strengths, needs, and preferences. It guides your IPP and spending plan.
Service Coordinator (SC) / Case Manager / Social Worker: Your regional center staff contact who helps coordinate services. In SDP you have more control, but your service coordinator stays part of your team.
Spending Plan: A detailed plan showing how you will use your individual budget — the services you chose and how much money goes to each. It cannot exceed your budget.
Transition Plan: A plan made when you move from traditional regional center services into SDP, so your supports are not interrupted during the switch.
The three FMS models (how you hire and pay support workers)
Bill Payer (Fiscal Agent): The FMS pays bills to providers and vendors. Workers are independent businesses, not your employees. Least paperwork for you.
Co-Employer: You and the FMS share the employer role — you help hire and supervise; the FMS handles payroll, taxes, and workers’ comp. A middle-ground option.
Sole Employer: You are the direct employer of your workers. The most control and the most responsibility, with FMS support for payroll and taxes.
Your rights and where to get help
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Final Rule: A federal Medicaid rule that requires services (including SDP) to support inclusion, independence, and choice.
Lanterman Act: The California law that guarantees people with developmental disabilities the right to services in the community. SDP exists under this law.
Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA): A statewide program (part of Disability Rights California) that helps regional center clients understand and protect their rights, including appeals. (disabilityrightsca.org)
SDP Ombudsperson: An independent office within DDS that helps resolve problems and communication breakdowns between participants and regional centers.
Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee (SDLAC): A local volunteer committee — each RC has one — of participants, families, and advocates that supports and monitors SDP in that region. (Sometimes called an LVAC or SDAC)
Statewide Self-Determination Advisory Committee (SSDAC): The statewide committee that identifies best practices and recommends improvements to SDP.
Common acronyms
A full list of terms and abbreviations maintained by the Disability Rights California website:
https://rula.disabilityrightsca.org/supplements/supplement-a-common-terms-and-abbreviations/
An additional resource is Self-Determination Institute (SDI):
https://completeguidetosdp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SDI-Acronym-List.pdf