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BARO Guide Series · Episodes

SDP, One Step at a Time.

Plain-language SDP guides for California families of people with developmental disabilities. From how the system works to choosing an FMS, in a series.

01 Understanding the System02 Taking ActionFind My SDP Stage
Guide
03

One Phone Call? Half True.

One Phone Call? Half True.

The four steps from regional center referral to eligibility and the IPP, with the timelines set in law.

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1-Minute Self-Check

What's My SDP Stage?

Answer 9 quick questions to see where you are, what to do next, and which guides fit your stage.

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Part 01

Understanding the System

Episodes that map out how California's developmental services system works

EP
01
STRUCTURE

Where Do I Start?

Where Do I Start?

How California's disability support is layered, and why the regional center is where long-term support begins.

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EP
02
REGIONAL CENTER

What Is a Regional Center?

What Is a Regional Center?

What a regional center is (a nonprofit under contract with DDS), and what it does and does not do.

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EP
03
ELIGIBILITY

One Phone Call? Half True.

One Phone Call? Half True.

The four steps from regional center referral to eligibility and the IPP, with the timelines set in law.

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EP
04
POST-ELIGIBILITY

What Changes After You Qualify?

What Changes After You Qualify?

What opens up after eligibility — and what doesn't: your SC, the IPP, common services, and payer of last resort.

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EP
05
IPP

IPP Is a Negotiation Table

IPP Is a Negotiation Table

What the IPP is, what happens at the meeting, and three things to prepare beforehand.

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EP
06
SERVICE COORDINATOR

Is Your SC On Your Side?

Is Your SC On Your Side?

What your service coordinator does and doesn't do, why experiences vary, and five practical tips for working together.

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EP
07
SDP

Traditional vs. SDP: It's About Structure, Not Just Freedom

Traditional vs. SDP: It's About Structure, Not Just Freedom

Traditional vs. SDP compared as "request–approve" vs. "plan–carry out–document," and a neutral look at who each fits.

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Information alone rarely gets parents moving. They start when understanding turns into trust — the feeling that “with these people, I can do this safely.”

Part 02

Taking Action

Episodes that make getting started with SDP easier

EP
08
MINDSET

"I'll Do It Later" — Why Later Never Comes

"I'll Do It Later" — Why Later Never Comes

Five points where families stall on SDP even after learning about it, and one 10-minute step you can take today.

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EP
09
ACTION

3 Things While You Wait

3 Things While You Wait

Three things you can do in under 20 minutes while you wait for SDP orientation.

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EP
10
IF

Do You Really Need an IF?

Do You Really Need an IF?

A neutral look at the Independent Facilitator: what an IF does, whether you need one, cost, and how to find one.

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Start Your SDP Journey with BARO.

Questions? Reach out anytime — BARO FMS is here for you, in English and Korean.

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