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Regional centers are private, nonprofit corporations throughout California that operate under contracts from the California Department of Developmental Services to provide services for California residents with developmental disabilities and their families.
Click here for a comprehensive directory of the California Regional Centers.
These disabilities include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and related conditions.
Established almost 30 years ago by the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, there are now 21 regional centers that are each operated by an autonomous, free-standing board.
To ensure that the client and family are afforded the range of support and community service necessary, regional centers develop individual and family-specific plans and services that are geared toward particular goals, objectives and community programs.
Regional centers provide or coordinate the following services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families:
- Information and referral
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Counseling
- Lifelong individualized planning and service coordination
- Purchase of necessary services included in the individual program plan
- Assistance in finding and using community and other resources
- Advocacy for the protection of legal, civil and service rights
- Early intervention services for at risk infants and their families
- Genetic counseling
- Family support and respite care
- Planning, placement, and monitoring for 24-hour out-of-home care
- Educational and employment training opportunities for individuals and families
- Community education about developmental disabilities
- Specialized medical or health services
- Transportation
There is no charge for diagnosis and assessment for eligibility. Once eligibility is determined, most services are free regardless of age or income.
For more information:
California Regional Centers
Department of Developmental Services
Telephone: (916) 654-1958
www.dds.ca.gov/rc/rcinfo.cfm
Click here for a comprehensive directory of the California Regional Centers.
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