Why we chose a self directed program

When V was in school, her psychologist and teachers described her as self directed. She had her own ideas about how she should be spending her time and frequently those ideas did not mesh with the schedule that her teachers had in mind for her. There seemed to be such a strong need to be in control of where, when and for how long she would participate in a particular activity. Although V had little in the way of communication skills, her tantrum and refusal to comply with directions seemed to scream, "Stop telling me what to do every minute of my day! It's my life and I want a say in it!"
How can someone with about 20 words, no handwriting, no sign language and and minimal working knowledge of picture symbols have a say in their life? She shows her caregivers what she likes by her smiles, laughter and willing participation. She shows us what she doesn't like by refusing to participate. She tells us she has had enough by walking away. She needs someone in her life to care enough about what she wants to observe and report on those things that give her life meaning and joy. That person is me, her mother.
When school was about to come to an end, when she was 20 years old, we had to choose between various traditional programs that would include supported employment and a group home, or a pilot program offered by the state of Maryland called The New Directions Waiver. The New Directions Waiver allowed disabled people in the state to direct their own adult program using the same budget that the traditional agencies would receive. I was advised that V's non-compliant nature made her a poor fit for those traditional programs, but that we had this great alternative. So, here we are, and V has a self directed life now.