Self-Directed Support has been growing and developing for over 50 years around the world. There are numerous reports, articles and websites available to help you understand best practice. This page points you to some of the main resources available. If you think your website should be listed here please contact us.
Citizen Network host the SDS Network and its library contains many publications on the topic of how to advance citizenship for all people. Its resources on self-directed support are available here:
Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIIC) is Canada’s only university-based research centre focusing on social policy and issues concerned with the full inclusion and citizenship of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities:
Human Services Research Institute (HRSI) is US organisation that advises governments on how to create community-based, person-driven service systems:
Manawanui is a social enterprise driven by the belief that self-direction is a fundamental human right and providing practical supports for self-direction:
Suunta is the Finnish centre on personal budgeting whose goal is to increase people's choice and influence over their lives:
UNIC Project is an European system to help people, services and governments get information to help move systems to wards personal budgets:
Western Australia's individualised Services (WAIS) works in partnership with people, families, service providers and government to promote and advance individualised, self-directed supports and services:
Applied Self-Direction is a US-based organisation that works to support the right of people with disabilities to live the lives they want:
Applied Self-Direction Website
European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) works to improve policy and practice in disability support services:
European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) is a user-led network of disabled people which advocates for Independent Living values, principles and practice to make the full citizenship of disabled people possible.
HRSI have also produced this very useful review of self-direction resources:
The UNIC Project guide to EU countries for Long Term Care and Support based on human rights.
Good practice guide on the transition from Institutional to Community-based Care.
Support Girona hosted a seminar to review global and European developments in self-directed support.
A vision for reforming the NDIS as a regenerative system of support co-designed with people with disabilities.
The first webinar from the SDS network covered the issues of how countries were responding to the COVID-19 crisis, what the crisis can teach us about changes we need for the future and how this may impact the development of self-directed support.
Leaders in self-directed support in Finland explain how systems are beginning to move towards and some of the early benefits
Keith, Danielle & Debbie describe the development of self-directed support in Scotland.
Chris Watson of Self Directed Futures and Gary Kent of New Key and Jacqui Hendra of Devon County Council on ISFs.
Marsha explains how New Zealands' approach to self-directed support has developed from initial exceptional arrangements into what is now a central plank of Government policy.
John O'Brien and Robin Cooper share how SDS has evolved in the USA and the lessons therein for other countries.
Damien Bridgeman explains the development of social service reforms in Wales where the ideas of citizenship and community have shaped policy.
There has been significant progress in Scotland in reforming disability services, but major challenges remain.
The final UNIC report explores how to build and sustain personal budgets reforms and use EU structures.
