Most adult supports are chosen via eligible providers on HCBS waiver lists. However, some states have been toying with a new method that offers more flexibility and choice. In this conversation we explore what families have and have not liked about the newly rolled out Self Determination Program and why our family has decided to move away from provider lists and into this new option of funding supports.
About the Guest: Sonni Charness, Founder of Guidelight GroupSonni Bendetson Charness brings over a decade of experience serving teens and adults with developmental disabilities and is an expert in community integration and employment supports. Sonni leads the team at Guidelight Group and also works personally with clients.
Sonni's work on transition-to-adulthood and employment has been published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation and in Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities. Sonni has been a featured expert on the LOMAH podcast and as a presenter at countless conferences including TASH, the Supported Life Conference, and the Statewide Conference on Self-Determination.
Sonni is a member of the Board of Directors for California APSE, the state chapter of the nation’s leading advocacy organization promoting employment for people with disabilities. Sonni is a Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP), and is trained in Person-Centered Thinking and Independent Facilitation.
Sonni obtained her master's degree in special education at Vanderbilt University, where she specialized in transition-to-adulthood and employment outcomes for students with moderate/severe disabilities. Sonni earned her bachelor's degree in child development from Tufts University.
Links to Mentioned ContentSonni on the LOMAH Podcast for the Transition Series - Episode #95 - School to Adult Services: Filling the Gaps
Disaability Voices United
Self Determination Program Connect Zoom Meetings
Presentations on the San Gabriel / Pamona Regional Center YouTube channel presented by Guidelight Group.
#171 - 40 Years of AAC Use
#170 - Asserting Authority & Directing Care as an AAC User
#169 - AAC in Medical Settings
#168 - Using The Entire AAC Device
#167 - AAC Slang, Slurs, Swearing...and Censorship
#166 - AAC with Spoken Communication
165 - More Than Requests: Using AAC for Authentic Communication
164 - AAC Series Intro + A Few Life Updates
#162 - Conservatorship vs Supported Decision Making
#161 - 18 Years Later: What We Got Right and What We Would Have Done Differently
#160 - Survival Mode
#159 - Our Empty Nest Plan: 4 Years Out
#158 - Life Update & Mini Series Intro
#157 - Therapy Series Recap
#156 - Therapy From a Client's Perspective
#155 - Supporting Families in Rural Settings
#154 - The ABA Debate
#153 - The Need for Niche Therapy
#152 - Education and Therapy Customization
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