A self-directing person:

• Is able and willing or has a legal guardian able and willing to make lifestyle choices or has a legal guardian able and willing to make informed choices, or has designated a relative or other adult who is able and willing to assist in making informed choices as to the type and quality of services, including but not limited to such services as nursing care, personal care, transportation, and respite services.
• Has the ability to organize their environment to implement these choices.
• Has the capability to understand the consequences of these choices and the willingness to take responsibility for them.

To participate in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, the consumer must be:

• Eligible for Medicaid
• Eligible for long-term home care, certified home health agency services, AIDS home care, or personal care services.
• Recipients must be able and willing to make informed choices regarding the management of the services they receive or have a legal guardian or designated relative or another adult able and willing to help make informed choices.

The program promotes and enables independence and consumer empowerment by gaining more control over their personal care needs. A consumer can:

• Independently or with the assistance of an advocate, recruit, interview, train, schedule, supervise and dismiss the Personal Assistant(s) of their choice.
• Hire as many Personal Assistants as may be deemed necessary to satisfy the consumer’s needs, and as authorized by the Service Provider.
• Develop a direct working relationship with the Personal Assistant.