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Self Direction Services

AccessCNY’s Self Direction Services empower adults with developmental disabilities to customize their supports and services to meet their unique needs. With the support of family and friends, Self Direction participants take control of important decisions such as what support staff to hire, which services to receive and how to allocate money from their budget.

Watch our Self Direction explainer video or continue reading to find out how you can take charge of your care today.

Explainer Video


The Self-Direction Process

The process of enrolling in Self Direction services at AccessCNY is pretty simple. When someone first joins the program, they are paired with an AccessCNY employee known as a Self Direction broker.

Together you and your Self Direction broker create a “Circle of Support” which is a team of family, friends and staff available to provide emotional or logistical support. In line with state regulations, each Circle of Support must also include a Self Direction broker, a case manager and a fiscal intermediary (who provides support handling finances).

Once a Circle of Support is established and you’ve done any necessary trainings, you can start self directing your services!

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