SDI · SDTA
A guide to participant-directed services

Help and sources

Where to get help, the rules this guide is drawn from, and the words used in it.

Participant-directed services: for some regional center services, you choose who provides them, such as a worker you hire or a class or camp in your community. A company called a financial management service (FMS) pays them. Start of this guide

Where to get help

Your service coordinator

The first person to ask. In 2021 the state paid for Participant Choice Specialists at each regional center, to be experts in participant-directed services and the Self-Determination Program. Ask if yours has one, and if they help with participant-directed services.

DAN

DAN, the Disability Access Navigator, answers your questions about all three choices and helps you write your meeting request.

Day or night, in English or Spanish. Free to people and their unpaid supports. No login.

Ask DAN

OCRA

Free help from Disability Rights California when you and your regional center disagree. Call 1-800-390-7032.

Good things to read

The rules this guide is drawn from

  • California Code of Regulations, title 17, sections 58883 to 58888: what participant-directed services are, your role, the role of the financial management service (FMS), and the rates.
  • Welfare and Institutions Code sections 4646, 4646.5, 4710, 4710.5 and 4715: planning meetings, written notice, appeals, and keeping a service going during an appeal.
  • Welfare and Institutions Code section 4688.21: community-based training. Section 4688.22: social recreation, camp and non-medical therapies.
  • California's Home and Community-Based Services waiver for people with developmental disabilities, Appendices C and E. This is the agreement with the federal government.
  • From the Department of Developmental Services (DDS): Frequently Asked Questions for Self-Advocates and Families, October 2020. It was written during the pandemic and has not been updated.
  • From DDS: guidance on social recreation, camp and non-medical therapies, September 2024, and its directive of November 3, 2023 on the same services.
  • From DDS: the rate files for each regional center and its rate directive of December 23, 2024, reissued February 4, 2025.
  • From DDS: its letter of February 14, 2025 on what financial management services are paid.
  • From DDS: its letter of January 28, 2022 on electronic visit verification and live-in workers.
  • From DDS: its guidance of July 2, 2024 on coaching before the Self-Determination Program, and its letter of November 4, 2021 on Participant Choice Specialists.

These were read on October 6, 2026. Rules and rates change. If something here does not match what your regional center tells you, ask which rule they are using, and write to support@sdta-np.com.

Words used in this guide

Words used in this guide
WordWhat it means
AppealAsking the state to review a regional center decision you disagree with. The notice of action explains how. If you did not get a notice, ask your service coordinator how to appeal.
ConservatorA person a court has appointed to make certain decisions for an adult.
DDSThe California Department of Developmental Services. It oversees the regional centers and sets the rates.
Employer of recordAn agency hires the worker you pick and is the employer. It is not participant-directed services.
FMSFinancial management service. The company that pays your worker and runs payroll.
IPPIndividual Program Plan. The plan you and your regional center agree on. It lists your services and hours.
Notice of actionA written notice from your regional center about a decision. It gives the reason and explains how to appeal.
Planning meetingThe meeting where you and your regional center write or change your IPP. Also called an IPP meeting.
Service coordinatorYour main contact at the regional center. Some regional centers say case manager, social worker or CSC.
WaiverCalifornia's agreement with the federal government that helps pay for many regional center services.

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