Self-Determination

The defining principles in self-determination are:

• Freedom - the opportunity to choose how to live one’s life.
• Authority - direction and control of the resources used to provide supports.
• Support - access to quality services to assist people to live the life they want.
• Responsibility - making reasonable choices that are consistent with adult behavior.

The primary expression of self-determination is the ability of the person who uses services to control and direct the resources that support them in the form of an individual budget.

The Butler County Board of MRDD encourages individuals to direct their own plan for services.  Self-Directed Plans allow the person served to determine how the resources that are allocated to help them achieve goals are utilized.  The agency wants to afford the freedom of choice for the individual served to the greatest extent possible. Because of the limited nature of resources, choices for services are based on assessed need.