Traditional community-based waiver services offer individuals and families a menu of approved services that must be accessed through approved provider agencies.  Self-directed services will give individuals and families more control over the resources (money) and enable them to create their own supports. 

The goal is not to create a broadened menu of set service alternatives, but rather to stimulate, by shifting control to the individual or family, the ongoing development of new options for support that are defined by the individual or family.

A person would have an individualized plan and budget that he or she would actively manage.  The individual could choose his/her own supports or could choose a support broker that he/she hires and supervises. 

The individual or family would receive funding through a fiscal intermediary.  A fiscal intermediary is an agency that would receive the funds from state and administer them on behalf of the individual or family.