YOUR IPP

   Individual Program Plan

 

It’s Not Just a

Piece of Paper!

 

Image of two hands shaking over a contract.

 

A Booklet For People Who Use Services

From Regional Centers

 

Capitol People First and Disability Rights California
Peer Advocacy Project 1994
Revised 1998, 2003, 2010

Image of symbols of justice.

 

The Law – The Lanterman Act

 

 

 

In California people with developmental disabilities have the right to services that help them be a part of their communities. 

The law says people who use Regional Centers have the right to make decisions about the services and supports they need. 

 

Image of people in a house.

 

Where to live…

 

 

 

Image of a person in a wheel chair speaking to someone sitting in a chair.

 

Who to live with...

 

 

Image of someone at a meeting talking about a schedule.Image of a man in an office environment.

 

 

            Where to work or go to school… 

 

Image of a person in a wheel chair holding a door open for their friend.

 

 

          Who to have for friends…

 

 

Image of symbols of excercise equipment.

 

   What to do for fun…

 

 

                           What to do in the future….

 

 

 

  What is your Individual Program Plan?  

Image of paper with My IPP on it. 

    Your IPP is an action plan that talks about the
    help you need to live the way you want

 

 

 

Image of bus driver speaking to a person in a wheel chair.

     Your IPP identifies services and supports to  
     help you be more independent and participate
     in the community.

 

 

 

Image of a person writing on paper.     It is a written agreement and contract between
     you and your Regional Center.

 

 

Image of pages from a calendar.    The law says people must have an IPP meeting
    at least once every 3 years.  Some people
    have an IPP done each year.  You can ask your
    Service Coordinator to have one sooner, if you
    want or need one.

 

After you ask for an IPP meeting, it must happen  

within 30 days.

Image of a person pointing up into the sky.

Most Important Part of the IPP is

                         YOU!

 

Image of paper with My IPP on it.

1)  You have a right to a written IPP that lists
 your future goals and what services you want
 and need. 

Image of urban environment.

2)   You have a right to services that are a part
of your community—Not only in places or groups for people with disabilities.

Image of a person in a wheel chair with a report.

3)   You have a right to help put together your IPP.

 

 The Regional Center and agencies that provide   
 services to you—like group homes or programs—
 must allow you to make your own decisions.

Image of symbols of a file system.

     Important information you need to make decisions  
     must be given to you in a way you can understand.

Services and Supports in Your IPP

Image of someone writing on paper.

             There is an IPP Meeting Planner at the end of
              this booklet.  It has a list of services you can ask
    for in your IPP.  Here are some examples:

 

Image of a woman at a computer terminal.

   Help getting a job, including Supported
   Employment and putting together a small
   business.

 

Image of a graduate.                                                                                             
    Help getting into school or a training program.

 

 

Image of a school bus.  Transportation services and/or training to learn
  how to use buses and other transportation on 
  your own.

 

Image of a person in a wheel chair in an office environment.

      Training and support so that you can live in
      your own place.

 

Services and Supports in Your IPP

Image of people in a training environment.

    Training on how to advocate for yourself or getting

    involved with a self-advocacy group like People
     First.

 

Image of an urban environment.

Help to get involved in fun things happening     

in the community. The individual choice budget program may allow you to get recreational
   services.

 

 

Image of a person in a wheel chair speaking to someone sitting down in a chair.

  Someone to assist you, if you want to be on a     

  committee or a member of a Board of Directors.

Image of a wheel chair ramp going up stairs.

      Help to get adaptive equipment like wheelchairs

     or computers that speak.

 

Image of a building.      Other services you need to live a better life.

      This can be different for each person.

 

Why Your IPP Meeting Is Important

 

image of a person writing on paper. Your IPP meeting is the only time your IPP can be   

 officially talked about and written up. If your 
 Regional Center calls you about changing your 
 services, tell them you want to talk about it at an 
 IPP meeting.

 

Image of symbols of justice.

   You have the right to be at your IPP meeting and    

   tell people what services you need and want.

 

 

Image of a group of people at a dinner table.         You can have your IPP meeting in a place you 
     want that is comfortable for you.

 

     You can invite people to your IPP meeting, like   

                friends or family who support you.

 

Image of paper with My IPP on it.

     The Regional Center cannot change your
     services or write your IPP without you attending  
     the meeting.

 

Your IPP is a Contract

 

Image of a person writing on paper.

  You and the Regional Center must agree and

  sign the IPP before the services can be given or 

  continue. 

 

Image of a hand with thumbs up.         If you only agree to part of your IPP, ask your Service  
    Coordinator to write it out, like this:

I agree to these parts of my IPP—

1.

2.

3.

 

Please start/continue services I agree to right away.

I do not agree to these parts of my IPP—

1.

2.

3.

 

Image of a day from a calendar. Image of a hand with thumbs down.   If the Regional Center says “No” to services or supports
 you want, they must send a letter within 5 days telling
 you why they said “No,” and how you can appeal.               

                                                  

(See page 12)

Image a person pointing up at the stars and moon in the sky.   Getting Ready for Your

                    IPP Meeting

 

1.        Think about your dreams for the future.  Think about what you need to be healthy and safe in the community.

Image of a page with My IPP on it.

2.        Review your old IPP to see what is working or not working—ask a friend/family member to help.

 

3.        Image of students speaking in a social group.Talk to people you trust about what you want to  
say at your meeting.  Then write it down— or ask a friend or family member to help you.

     Or record what you want to say with a tape    

Image of a tape recorder.     recorder and bring it to your meeting.

Image of a man person speaking through a megaphone.

4.        Practice speaking up.  You are your own best             

     advocate about what you want and need.

 

 

Image of a person writing on paper.

          * The IPP Meeting Planner at the end of the
             booklet can help you plan for your meeting.

 

What You Can Do at Your IPP Meeting

 

Image of a meeting environment and agenda.    If you want friends, family or an advocate to   

   attend, you can invite them. You may also decide

   where you want to have your meeting.

 

 

Image of a person reading a report.     Give your Service Coordinator what you wrote (or      

    the tape) about your plans and services you want.

 

                    Be polite and assertive.

 You can ask to have a different Service Coordinator and 
 you can ask to change services you get, if you need to.

Image of a hand with thumbs up.        

Image of a hand with thumbs down.Image of a page from a calendar.There must be a person at your meeting who can say “Yes” or “No” to what is in your IPP.  This can be your  Service Coordinator or other Regional Center staff.

 

 If the person who can approve services in your IPP

 is not at your meeting, the Regional Center must set up  
 another IPP meeting within 15 days.  The Regional  
 Center staff member who approve services must  
 attend.

 

If the Regional Center says “No” or Makes Changes in Your Services

 

 

Image of a judge's gavel.

     If you disagree with the Regional Center about services    

     you want or need, you have a right to appeal their  decision.  

 

 

 

 

Image of a court hearing environment.

  To get help with an appeal, follow these steps.    
  Appealing is not easy, but it is your right to challenge  
  the Regional Center’s decision.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image of a person looking up a large flight of stairs.Steps to Appeal

 

Image of an envelope with a letter coming out of it.

 

 

1.       If the Regional Center disagrees with a service you want or need or wants to make changes to your services, they must send you a letter within 5 days explaining why they want to change or deny your services.  This is called a Notice of Action (NOA).  The letter must be in language you understand.  For example, if you speak Spanish, the letter must be written in Spanish. 

 

2.       Image of a pad of blank paper.In the letter, the Regional Center must give you information that explains how to appeal their decision.

 

3.       You have to send a letter to the Regional Center saying you want to appeal.  This isn’t easy- so get help from friends, family, or an advocate.

Image of a page from a calendar.

If you send your appeal within 10 days after getting

            the Regional Center’s letter, they can’t stop your    
            services while the appeal is going on. 

 

 

 

Image of a judge's gavel.If the Regional Center says “No” or Makes Changes in Your Services

Image of a form being filled out.

4.        If the Regional Center is denying a new request you asked for, you have 30 days from the day you receive the denial letter to file a formal appeal.      

 

5.   On the appeal form you can request an informal meeting so you can tell the Regional Center what you need and why it is important to you. You can choose to go to this meeting with the Regional Center or you can go to the next step of the appeal.

 

If you go to this meeting and the Regional Center still doesn’t agree with you, you can still go to the next step of the appeal.    

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image of a judge's gavel.  If the Regional Center says “No” or Makes Changes in Your Services

 Image of two people standing below the word Yes.

6.             You may ask for a mediation meeting on the appeal form. Mediation—is when someone who does not work for the Regional Center  meets with you and the Regional Center to help you work things out.

 

      This person helps all of you agree on the services    

      you will get in your IPP.  If you and the Regional

      Center agree, you are done.  You and the Regional  
      Center can choose not to go to mediation.  

 

Image of symbols of justice.      If you still do not agree, you can go to a Fair
         Hearing. You or the Regional Center can also skip
       the mediation step and go straight to a Fair
       Hearing.

 

Image of a meeting between two people.     7.       During a Fair Hearing, you and the Regional             Center put your case before an Administrative Law       Judge from the state.  The Administrative Law Judge
     decides your case.  Formal Fair Hearings are           
        difficult; you should get help from family, friends, or 
 an advocate for this step. 

 

8.             Image of a court house.If you do not agree with the Fair Hearing decision, you can appeal it to the court. You have 90 days to file an appeal in court from the day you get the Fair Hearing decision. At this point, you should have a lawyer or other advocate. 

Image of a memo with Special Tips on the heading.Remember, Get Help With

Your Appeal

 

   Everyone should get help with an appeal. 

 

   Talk to your Area Board, family, friends, circle of  
   support or People First group for support.

 

 

Image of two people in a training environment. Each Regional Center has a Clients’ Rights 

 Advocate. Ask the Regional Center who they  
 are and get their phone number. The Clients
  Rights Advocate can support you. 

 

Image of a telephone.          Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy can be
                  reached at this number: 
             1-800-390-7032

 

                          OR

 

   You can call Disability Rights California          
                  1-800 776-5746

 

For more information and publications go to www.disabilityrightsca.org

 

          IPP MEETING PLANNER

 

Image of a person pointing to the moon and the stars in the sky.These worksheets help you plan for your IPP   

  Meeting. Use them to help you think about what  

       want in the future.


A PLACE TO LIVE

Image of a neighborhood.Where do you want to live?

¨              Stay where I am

¨              My parent’s place

¨              My own place

¨              A group home

¨              Supported living

¨              Independent Living

¨              My own place with roommates

¨              Other ______________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________Image of a man with an idea.

What services do you need to help you live hwere
   you want?

¨              Image of a person in a wheel chair talking to a person sitting in a chair.More training

¨              Help with managing my money

¨              An attendant or roommate

¨              Help finding a place to live

¨              Someone to give me regular support and help

¨              Being safe

¨              Other ____________________________________

Image of a woman in a wheel chair using a computer.A PLACE TO WORK  OR ATTEND SCHOOL

 

Where do you want to work or go to school?

¨    Stay where I am working now

¨    In the community

¨    In a workshop or center

    What kind of work do you want to do? _____________ 

    _____________________________________________

¨    Volunteer work  

     What kind ____________________________________

¨    Other

¨    College

¨    Adult education classes

¨    Other ________________________________________

     _____________________________________________

Image of a man with an idea.

What services do you need to help with working
    or going to school?

¨   Image of a person in a wheel chair speaking to a person sitting in a chair.  A job coach or aide at the job

¨     A tutor or note taker

¨     Training in a workshop

¨     Other training

¨     Access to work place or class (like a ramp)

¨     Transportation

¨     Other

 

 

 

Image of a person giving a presentation.                       HAVING FUN

 

What do you want to do in your free time?

¨    Visit friends

¨   Image of a woman pushing a person in a wheel chair. Shop

¨    Go to movies or plays

¨    Volunteer work

¨    Play sports

¨    Listen to music / watch TV

¨    Hobby

¨    Dating

¨    Join People First

¨    Help advocate for other people

¨    Other

 


Image of a man with an idea.

What services do you need to help you do the
   things you want to do?

¨    Training

¨   Image of a person in a wheel chair speaking to someone sitting in a chair. Attendant

¨    Facilitator

¨    Transportation

¨    Circle of friends

¨    Other _______________________________________

 

Image of an urban environment. 

              OTHER THINGS

 

What other things do you want help with?

¨    Cooking

¨    Shopping

¨    Cleaning my place

¨    Meeting more people/making friends or dating

¨    Learning about sexual relationships and safe sex

¨    Getting along better with people

¨    Self-advocacy and knowing my rights

¨    Problems with Social Security, SSI, or other benefits

¨    Self-defense

¨    Being on committees or a boards of director

¨    Other

Image of a man with an idea.

What other services do you need to help?

¨    Training

¨    Attendant

¨   Image of a person in a wheel chair speaking with a person sitting in a chair. Someone to ask questions

¨    Help setting up a circle of friends

¨    An advocate or lawyer

¨    Mentor

¨    Facilitator

¨    Other _______________________________________

 

 

Image of symbols from a doctors office.WHAT MEDICAL SERVICES DO YOU NEED? 

 

¨     Doctor services

¨     Counseling

¨     Dentist services

¨     Sex education (safe sex; birth control)

¨     Staying in shape, exercise or diet

¨     Other _______________________________________

      ____________________________________________

Image of a man with an idea.

What other support do you need to help get
   medical services?

¨    Training

¨    Attendant

¨   Image of a person in a wheel chair speaking with a person sitting in a chair. Someone to ask questions

¨    An advocate or lawyer

¨    Facilitator

¨    Other _______________________________________