Self-Determination In The I/DD Market: Keys To Incorporating Consumer-Directed Care Into Your Services

The concept of self-determination in the intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) field has been around for a while. However, with the growing focus on consumerism in the health and human service field, incorporating this concept into services for consumers with disabilities is receiving new attention. Payers and provider organizations are looking for new ways to engage and enable consumers as part of the care team, and self-directed consumers that are engaged are also empowered to lead their own recovery—increasing service retention and performance outcomes. For provider organizations, successful self-direction will mean finding a way to educate and prepare consumers to participate in the decision-making process. We’ll discuss that challenge in this discussion session, which will cover:

• The market trends and challenges shaping the market for organizations serving the I/DD population
• Essential components to developing a program model that incorporates consumer self-direction
• Case studies from organizations that are managing their programs using the principles of self-direction