SDS Resources for People with Disabilities

This web page contains information that will help you learn how to direct your own services and supports. It does not have all the answers, but it does include ideas, information, and samples of materials to help you be able to make informed choices.

Choose subject area below for more information:

Background information about self-determination and self-directed supports (SDS)

Money matters, working with a fiscal agent, developing and managing a budget

Using person-centered planning

Staffing, recruiting, hiring, and firing

SDS, jobs and careers

A home of your own

Background information about self-determination and self-directed supports (SDS).

Here is some basic information about what self-determination means, as well as explaining what your rights and responsibilities are. It also includes some sample handbooks explaining how self-directed supports work in different communities in Wisconsin.

Principles of Self-Determination, Center for Self-Determination
Fact Sheet: Summary of Self-Determination, National Resource Center on Supported Living and Choice, Center on Human Policy Syracuse University
Making Dreams a Reality: Using Personal Networks to Achieve Goals as You Prepare to Leave High School. How can a personal network help you develop self-determination?
Being a Full Partner in Family Care (Wisconsin) - Important information for Family Care members or for anyone who is trying to decide whether to enroll in Family Care.
Self-Determination Series - Express Yourself! Assessing Self-Determination In Your Life. One section in a four-part series from University of Illinois-Chicago. Workbook format. This was written for people with mental illness, but anyone can use it.
The Yellow Book: Implementing Choice (PDF)- Dane County, WI
Self-Directed Supports (SDS): A Guide for Family Care Members (PDF) Milwaukee County, WI
Understanding Supports (PDF), excerpt from "Keeping It Real: How to Get the Supports You Need for the Life You Want", by Kathy Roberson, M.S.W., Rick Blumberg, Ph.D., and Dan Baker, Ph.D. Although written originally for transition-aged youth, many adults may find it useful as well.

Money matters: Working with a fiscal agent, developing and managing a budget.

A "fiscal agent" or a "fiscal intermediary" is someone who can help you manage the money that pays for your supports and services. This person can also help you fill out the payroll and tax forms for your employees and make sure they get paid.

Fiscal Assistance, Inc. (Dane County, WI) According to their web site, their mission is "to administer the funds for the programs we support and we strive to provide accurate, easy-to-understand financial information so that clients can make well-informed financial decisions in their day-to-day lives."
Individual and Family Fact Sheet: Using a Fiscal Intermediary. (Connecticut) This fact sheet explains how people can work with a fiscal intermediary (also know as a fiscal agent).
Fact Sheet: Hiring a Fiscal Agent (Hennepin County, MN) How fiscal agents can help you handle your tax-related issues.

Person-Centered Planning is a way of thinking about people that respects their interests, hopes, dreams, and desires.

It is a process of discussion and self-evaluation in which a person discovers how he or she wants to live, and the person's friends help explore what needs to be done to reach these goals.

Member Centered Planning Guide (Milwaukee County, WI) - This brochure briefly describes how member-centered planning is a part of Family Care and how you can be involved.
Self-Determination Series - This Is Your Life! Creating Your Self-Directed Life Plan. One section in a four-part series from University of Illinois-Chicago. Workbook format. This was written specifically for people with mental illness, but anyone can use it.

Staff: how to recruit, hire, supervise, fire, and train.

Sometimes they're Personal Care Attendants (PCAs). Sometimes they're Direct Service Professionals (DSPs). Sometimes they're Providers. No matter what you call them, the staff who you hire can give you the support and assistance you need to lead a fulfilling and self-determined life.

Find, Choose and Keep Great DSPs: A toolkit for people with disabilities looking for quality, caring and committed direct support professionals.
Fact Sheet: Hiring From Provider Agencies (Hennepin County, MN)
Fact Sheet: Hiring Your Own Support Provider (Hennepin County, MN)
Fact Sheet: Managing Your Support Provider (Hennepin County, MN)
Self-direction Toolkit (Kansas) - An all-in-one "toolkit", that enables self-directed employers to recruit, train, and manage personal assistants.
Individual and Family Fact Sheet: Hiring and Managing Your Own Supports (Connecticut)
Job Description Development Tool (Kansas)
8 Steps to Follow When Hiring a Personal Care Attendant (Kentucky)

Safety and risk

Handling Emergencies: A Guide to Personal Safety & Emergency Management

Being an employer:

Your employment structure (co-employer, employer of record, fiscal agent & fiscal intermediaries); rights and responsibilities of being an employer; worker’s compensation insurance.

Information for Employers (Wisconsin) - The Department of Workforce Development web site includes these sections: Finding Workers, What Employers Need to Know, and Resources for Employers.
Fact Sheet: Insurance Information (Hennepin County, MN)
Understanding The Connecticut DMR Home and Community Based Services Waivers: An Introduction to Your Hiring Choices (Connecticut) - Although written for Connecticut citizens, this manual includes helpful information about hiring and supervising your own support staff.

Getting help:

Independent advice and support to help you direct your own services (e.g., support broker, personal agent, flexible case managers)

Support Broker Job Description: Sample job descriptions from Dane County, WI and Ohio (adapted from Dane County, WI)

Managing your health and directing your health care services and supports.

Transition Health Care Tips (Kentucky) - Although these tips were originally developed for transition-aged youth, they are helpful for everyone.
Finding and Using Adult Health Care (Kentucky) - Although this handout was originally developed for transition-aged youth, it's helpful for everyone.
Womenshealth.gov - This site has lots of information on health and health care for women with disabilities.

SDS, Jobs & careers

Evaluating Your Agency and Its Services: A Checklist for Job Seekers with Disabilities– This article provides a checklist that you can use to decide which employment support agency is the right one for you.
Networking: A Consumer Guide to an Effective Job Search– This article explains how to use networking in your job search.
Quality Employment Services: Will You Know It When You See It?–This article will help you determine if you are getting what you need from your employment services and what your choices are.
Self-directed employment: Toolkit for Oregonians with DD
Show Me the Money: Flexible funding for job success - How does flexible funding help you keep and find the jobs you want?
Starting with Me: A Guide to Person-Centered Planning for Job Seekers- This guide reviews a three-stage career development process. Career development is an approach to help you make satisfying job choices.
Four Strategies to Find a Good Job: Advice from Job Seekers with Disabilities– How do you find a good job? This article will give you some ideas!

A home of your own

My Own Keys (Pennsylvania): Stories about people who have moved into their own homes.
When The Law Says It’s Okay To Bend The Rules Reasonable Accommodations– A publication clarifying the regulations related to housing for people with disabilities. Although this is specific to Pennsylvania, much of the information is based on federal law.
Movin' Out, Inc. is a housing organization providing information and assistance, housing counseling, and gap financing for purchase and rehabilitation to Wisconsin households with a member who has a permanent disability.
Fact Sheet: Person Centered Planning and Home Ownership (Indiana). This fact sheet discusses how person centered planning may be a useful tool for some people with disabilities in conjunction with community home ownership education and counseling services.