It is hard to believe, but I have been enrolled in Self-Determination for almost 3 years now. Where has all the time gone! So much in my life, me personally, and my spending plans have changed. This is the beauty of Self-Determination to tailor your spending plans to your specific wants, hopes, and needs. As you or your circumstance changes, you can update your spending plan–neat! Let me share with you my story in Self-Determination to show case its plans flexibility.
To begin with, DDS selected me to be in the Self-Determination roll out on October 1, 2018, and things have never been the same since. I went through orientation where I learned the fundamentals of the program. I immediately set to work to come up with a person-centered plan. I identified my FMS, and the PCP agency that would conduct and write my PCP. SDRC selected my SC for me, and I chose my her to be my IF—my budget was too small to afford one. I also picked the people to be on my PCP team—people who knew me well and had a very positive relationship with me. I met with the PCP agency twice before my PCP meeting.
At the meeting, I tried to keep things casual and low key. I told everyone to take their professional hats off and be themselves. The meeting just flowed, and it was a very productive, and positive and up lifting experience for me. The PCP agency wrote the report and submitted it to SDRC and me.
Then in short order SDRC certified my budget, approved my spending plan and my IPP. I officially enrolled in Self-Determination on October 1, 2019. The plan called for purchasing a monthly bus pass, ILS, and a medical emergency alert service. These were the same services as I had been receiving under traditional service guidelines.
I kept my services and outcomes the same in my Self-Determination IPP as my previous IPP under traditional service guidelines for two reasons. I was happy with how things were going. Secondly, SDP was so new to everyone that dealing with a simple plan would be easier for all concerned. I would deal with tweaking my plan later.
Once I had my plan up and running, I got to work, most importantly monitoring the plan spending. Each month, my FMS would send me an expense statement for the prior month, and I would review it. All of this went smoothly as clockwork. Things changed when the Pandemic hit.
With the Pandemic, my ILS services changed. They were now conducted over Zoom and the number of hours were cut back. That meant money wasn’t spent–a lot of it. So, after reviewing my monthly reports, I revised my spending plan, and we had an addendum to my IPP which called for specific items to be purchased. Then I went online and selected the items that I wanted spelled out in the plan, and the FMS made the purchases for me. These purchases arrived around my birthday, so when the items arrived it was like getting a lot of birthday presents—Yeah!
I then had my year 2, PCP meeting in August 2020. I invited my team and we met virtually, and I wrote the PCP report all by myself. Writing the plan was a lot of work, but I did it and I impressed myself doing it. I felt proud of what I accomplished.
The Plan still assumed that the pandemic would end shortly–mistake! When it continued to drag on and on, my plan continued to underspend ILS hours. So, in May 2021 I had my spending plan and IPP revised where I reallocated monies on the spending plan from ILS to supports that would better help me to reach my goals. I just didn’t need ILS anymore and I could use my funds better elsewhere. I have since phased out ILS completely!
My life continued to change in other regards. I am approaching my retirement and I wanted support in making my retirement plan. I contacted my FMS, and informed her of my needs, and she referred me to their benefits specialist. We met virtually discussing Social Security, Pensions, personal investments, living expenses, and Medicare. She helped me with come up with my plan–what a relief!
In September, I will have my third PCP meeting. I have set the date, sent out invitations, and received RSVPs. I will again write my PCP report. This year will be a big change as it will be a return to in-person. I am excited about it–normalcy!
My experience in SDP has taught me how flexible its plans are. A plan that is tailored perfectly for me today, may need to be changed tomorrow because either circumstances or I have changed. I encourage you to read your monthly statements, and from time to time review your plan. If you find the plan no longer meets your needs, go ahead, and change it. Remember the plan was made for you and not you for the plan!