Self-Direction Maine

Self-direction is a way of receiving services that puts you in the driver's seat. You have choice and control over:

• What services you want
• Who provides the services and supports
• When the service or support is provided
• Where the service or support is provided
• How the service or support is provided

• You are the boss. You recruit, interview, hire and manage workers that you choose. This can even include hiring friends and family members if you want.
• You set the schedule. You decide when your staff will come to provide assistance.
• You train your staff. Support can be provided how you want.
• You decide what rate your staff will be paid, within program and state/federal guidelines.
• You can use some of the money in your budget to purchase goods or services that will improve your independence, community involvement, or safety.
• Self-direction is a lot of work, but many people self-directing find the challenges are greatly outweighed by the rewards.

If you are on Section 29, the following services can be self-directed:

• Home Support- Quarter Hour
• 1:1 Community Membership
• Individual Directed Goods and Services
• Assistive Technology Devices
• Assistive Technology- Transmission
• Home Accessibility Adaptations

Here are some questions to ask:

• Do you want more choice and control over your services?
• Do words that describe you include: self-starter, go-getter, organized, or independent?
• Do you feel comfortable recruiting and interviewing applicants?
• Do you feel comfortable having conversations with people about their performance, especially if things aren’t going well?
• Do you have family and friends that are currently providing assistance for you or would like to?
• Do you feel confident in your own decision-making skills?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, self-direction might be right for you!

If you know you want more choice and control but are a little unsure about the rest, self-direction might still be right for you. In self-direction, you can appoint a representative.

A representative is a person that takes on some, or all, of the employer responsibilities. You can appoint a trusted adult in your life to be your representative, who will help you with decision making and problem solving. Using a representative means you still get to be in charge, but you will have someone else’s help along the way.