(530) 342-3674 95 Declaration Dr Suite 5A Chico, CA 95973 BL25-001363
About Guided Growth Solutions LLC
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower individuals with developmental disabilities to lead self‑directed, meaningful lives by providing independent, person‑centered planning and facilitation. We champion choice, autonomy, and equitable access to supports—ensuring every person has the tools, information, and advocacy needed to shape their own future.
History Of Services
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
The modern self‑determination model began in the mid‑1990s, when states faced three major problems:
- Rising service costs
- Limited resources
- Rigid service models that gave families little control
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded national pilot projects to test a new idea:
Give people with developmental disabilities a set budget and let them choose their own services.
These pilots demonstrated that people could design more effective, personalized supports when they had control.
California’s Path to Self‑Determination
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
Early Advocacy (2000s–2013)
California’s movement was driven by grassroots advocacy—self‑advocates, families, and disability rights organizations who wanted more flexibility than the traditional Regional Center system allowed.
Their efforts led to the drafting of Senate Bill 468 (Emmerson).
SB 468 Becomes Law (2013)
In October 2013, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed SB 468, officially creating the Self‑Determination Program (SDP).
The law required:
• A three‑year pilot phase
• Enrollment capped at 2,500 participants
• Oversight by Statewide and Local Self‑Determination Advisory Committees (SDACs)
Pilot Implementation (2018–2021
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
The pilot launched statewide in 2018, with participants selected through a lottery.
During this phase, the state tested:
- Individual budgets
- Person‑centered planning
- Independent Facilitators
- Financial Management Services (FMS)
- Spending plan flexibility
The pilot confirmed that people experienced greater independence, satisfaction, and community integration.
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
On July 1, 2021, California opened the Self‑Determination Program to all eligible Regional Center clients, ending the lottery and making self‑determination a permanent option.
Today, SDP is built around:
- Choice and control over services
- Flexible spending
- Person‑centered planning
- Independent facilitation
- Community‑based supports
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) continues to provide statewide orientation, training, and oversight.
Why This History Matter
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
Why This History Matter
Understanding the history helps clarify why SDP looks the way it does today:
- It was created by and for people with disabilities.
- It is rooted in civil rights and autonomy, not just service reform.
- It intentionally shifts power from systems to individuals and families.
- It emphasizes flexibility, creativity, and community inclusion.