Effective as of September 1st, 2026, RCEB has a new policy that impacts the staffing of social recreation activities both in the traditional system and for SDP budgets.

RCEB has a policy in place that limits individuals to 3 social recs at a time, with any additional activities needing to be reviewed by their Exceptions team if an individual or family needs more than 3 activities at a given time. Camps and seasonal activities also count against this 3-rec maximum. 

RCEB has given a “Conversation Guide” handout as a flyer for reference, in terms of what criteria they look at when approving social recs, and situations where they may not approve specific activities. 

Here's an updated visual timeline showing the transition steps from start to finish in SDP!

Here's a Reddit page I run about SDP! https://www.reddit.com/r/SDPCalifornia/

Here is an article outlining some changes coming to the Self-Determination Program! 

https://undivided.io/resources/self-determination-program-changes-coming-to-california-2025-26

Get insight into some of the most common questions about the Self-Determination Program!

https://neuronav.org/self-determination-blog/self-determination-faqs

There's a lot to know about the SDP process. Answers to commonly asked questions are available on the DDS website at https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/frequently-asked-questions/

Independent Facilitators are people who assist SDP-seeking individuals (or individuals already in SDP) with making informed decisions about their individual budget, locating and accessing services and supports, identifying immediate and long-term needs, developing options to meet an individual's needs, advocating for the individual in the Person-Centered Planning (PCP) and IPP processes, and obtaining services and supports for the individual.

Independent Facilitators are qualified individuals who have gone through training for the services and assistance they provide individuals. They are required to receive training in SDP, PCP, and other responsibilities related to servicing individual program plans. If an individual chooses not to use an Independent Facilitator, they may choose to use a regional center service coordinator to provide the services an Independent Facilitator would provide. 

You can learn more about Independent Facilitators on the DDS website at https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/independent-facilitators/

The California Self-Determination Program (known as “SDP” for short) is a program available to individuals who are receiving services from a regional center in the State of California. SDP is designed to give individuals freedom and autonomy over their own lives, and enable individuals to make decisions about their own needs and goals. Through consulting an individual's IPP, an Independent Facilitator can assist with creating a Person-Centered Plan (PCP) that details the needs and goals of the individual. This plan is reviewed with the regional center, which then confirms a budget that the individual may use to purchase services to help them obtain the goals outlined in their PCP. SDP is available for both children and adults. You can learn more about SDP on the DDS website at https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/