The first in our 2025 Webinar Series!

CA’s Self-Determination Program: More Choices, More Responsibilities!

You’ve heard about California’s Self-Determination Program (SDP). You may have already completed an SDP orientation, too. But you still aren’t sure. Join us for this informational evening!

Hear an overview and recent updates on California’s Self-Determination Program – a way to access intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) services that goes beyond the traditional model. Then, learn from Bay Area-based expert panelists with lived experience in the program. These panelists will discuss their SDP journey, the successes, and challenges, and how it is working for them or their family members.

Expert Panelists:

Lilian P. Ansari, Family Advocate

Melissa Crisp-Cooper, Associate Director of Participant Experience for The Arc San Francisco, Self-Determination Program Participant

Virginia Hom, Family Advocate, RCEB Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee Member, DVU Ambassador

Ken Parekh, Parent Advocate, GGRC Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee member, Stanford Autism Center Parent Advisory Board Member

With Sheraden Nicholau

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is established by state and federal law as an independent state agency and ensures that Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities are guaranteed the same full and equal opportunities for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as all Americans.

Sheraden Nicholau leads a Bay Area based team, executing the State Council on Developmental Disabilities’ core functions of advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change. This team is also responsible for data collection and community engagement for the National Core Indicators Project across multiple counties in the state.

Sheraden has held both lead and individual contributor roles in cross-sector and intra-industry advisory committees, task forces, and collaboratives, effecting change in inclusionary practices, policy and legislation. She has utilized her completion of the CA Peace Officers Standards and Training’s Instructor Certification Course (AICC) and Instructor Training Course (IITC) to provide developmental disabilities specific crisis intervention training for law enforcement and first responders in the state. Previously in her career, Sheraden has served as an associate executive director for a nonprofit service and advocacy organization. She received her MA and BA in Sociology, focused on social justice, social capital, and human services.

When: Tuesday, March 25 - 6:30-8:00 pm
Where: Online through Zoom
What: Our panel, led by Sheraden Nicholau - Regional Manager, Bay Area , State Council on Developmental Disabilities - will cover Self-Determination 101 followed by a time for Q&A.
Please note that this is not the time for hyper-specific case questions. Rather, we will focus on topics that will be of interest to the audience at large.
Resources: It is highly recommended that all attendees complete the DDS SDP Orientation prior to the webinar. This will provide you an excellent introduction to the concepts, and will help facilitate a better conversation for all involved. View the orientation calendar here to pick a time that works for you.
Registration: $10, free for members.

Don't miss our upcoming webinars in this series! We will be announcing more webinars soon on topics important to the Bay Area autism community, including: Housing, Finance, Regional Center Updates, Medical Issues Related to Autism...