Client and Family Services

General Information

The information in this section will help you become an informed and effective member of the Lanterman community. There are six key topics in this section, including:

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act
Working together in partnership
Person-centered planning and its implementation
Resolving disagreements about services and supports
Legal rights and responsibilities
Receiving quality and effective services and supports

There are also “tips” from experienced families and service coordinators, and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Early Childhood

This section contains a wealth of information for parents of young children ages birth to 5 years who are receiving services either through the Early Start Program or via Provisional Eligibility. The information in this section covers how parents can make informed decisions and choices about the variety of supports and services available both through vendored service providers and other community-based resources, that may be available to help your family achieve desired outcomes. There is also a comprehensives section on the transition from early childhood services and into the school system.

School Age

This section is primarily focused on your child’s school years, education-related topics and working with the school district. There is also information on inclusion and social recreation, as well as things that your child should learn, what you as parents can do to support your child. And of course what the transition out of school and into adulthood looks like.

Adult

This section provides you and your family access to information that helps you make decisions and choices about your life goals and your future as an adult. There are a variety of supports and services, both through vendored service providers and other community-based resources, that may be available to help you achieve your desired outcomes in where you live, work, and how you participate in your community.

Participant-Directed Services (PDS)

Participant-Directed Services are an alternative service delivery option that provides the individual receiving regional center services and their family with the flexibility to “direct” how, and by whom, certain services are provided to them.

Self Determination

The Goal: Empowered Individuals

This section is about Lanterman’s Self-Determination Program, which is an alternative to the traditional regional center service delivery. You can read more about self-determination, how the program work, and how to get started.

Video

What are the California Regional Centers?

This video was created by Lanterman and Friends, a collaborative effort by the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and the Regional Center system to make complex information simple, engaging, and accessible.

Visit Lanterman and Friends to see all the videos >>

FAQ

Get Answers

What services does Lanterman Regional Center provide?

Assessment and diagnosis
Service coordination linking people with services
Lifelong individualized planning
Assistance in finding and using community resources
Purchase of services identified in the individual plan
Advocacy for the protection of legal, civil and service rights
Early intervention services for at-risk infants and their families
Information and referral
Family support
Training and educational opportunities
Community outreach, awareness and education about developmental disabilities
Quality assurance and enhancement activities
Resource development
Client benefit coordination
Koch-Young Resource Center

What is active status?

An individual’s status with Lanterman is active as long as the individual is receiving services from Lanterman, including service coordination and maintaining a current Individual Program Plan.

An individual’s status becomes inactive either when the individual or family chooses to no longer receive services from the Regional Center and asks for the status to be changed, or if we lose touch with the individual.

It is very important that individuals and families keep Lanterman informed of their current address. If we are unable to contact an individual by mail and phone, we visit the last known address. If these attempts fail, we designate the individual’s status as inactive. The individual or family may ask for the case to be reactivated at any time.

Can a person lose his/her eligibility for services?

The Lanterman Act states that a person “who is determined by any regional center to have a developmental disability shall remain eligible for services from regional centers, unless a regional center, following a comprehensive reassessment, concludes that the original determination that the individual has a developmental disability is clearly erroneous.” [Section 4643.5(b)]

What are generic services?

There are many public agencies that are legally required to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities. We refer to these agencies as generic agencies and to the services and supports they provide as generic services. Each of these agencies has its own guidelines for eligibility and services. Generic agencies include, but are not limited to, Medi-Cal, public schools, county mental health agencies and the Social Security program.

What are natural supports?

Excerpt from the Department of Developmental Services’ publication, “How to Develop Natural Supports”

As defined in the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institution Code, Part (e): “Natural Supports” means personal associations and relationships typically developed in the community that enhance the quality and security of life for people, including, but not limited to, family relationships; friendships reflecting the diversity of the neighborhood and the community…

What does “Natural Supports” really mean? Think about all the people in your life – friends, family, co-workers – who are important to you and on whom you depend. Relationships with these people are your natural supports.

Read the entire publication:

English

Spanish

What is a Circle of Support?

According to the Lanterman Act: “Circle of support means a committed group of community members, who may include family members, meeting regularly with an individual with developmental disabilities in order to share experiences, promote autonomy and community involvement, and assist the individual in establishing and maintaining natural supports. A circle of support generally includes a plurality of members who neither provide nor receive services or supports for persons with developmental disabilities and who do not receive payment for participation in the circle of support.” [Section 4512 (f)]

In other words, a circle of support is a group of people who play an important role in the life of an individual by providing support in different ways during their day-to-day interactions with that person. Anyone that plays a supportive role in the person’s life is part of his or her circle of support. This could be a family member, a neighbor, or a school or work friend.

As a parent, what can I do to ensure the quality of the services being provided to my child?

Stay informed by attending meetings and asking questions. Visit and observe services or programs working with your child. If you are pleased with the progress and results, let the provider and your service coordinator know. If you observe anything unusual, such as missed appointments, coming late, or leaving early; are concerned about the quality of the service; or do not think that the service is achieving the desired outcome; you should share your concerns with the provider, but definitely share them with your service coordinator as soon as possible.

Where else can I find support within the Lanterman Community?

Families have told us over the years that one of the most important things they learn at the Regional Center is that they are not alone – that other parents of children with special needs share their experiences and feelings. Here are some things that parents have told us that have been particularly helpful to them:

Seek out peer support from other families who have “been there” by joining a support group or requesting a Peer Support Partner.
Identify and make use of your own natural support system – family, friends, religious organizations, community.
Keep your expectations high and set challenging, yet realistic, goals.

What happens if the individual receiving services moves out of Lanterman’s area?

If you or your family moves from Lanterman’s service area to another location in California, services and supports will be provided by the regional center that serves your new geographic area. Lanterman will transfer records to the new regional center. According to the Lanterman Act: “Whenever [an individual] transfers from one regional center catchment area to another, the level and types of services and supports specified in the [individual’s IFSP/IPP] shall be authorized and secured, if available, pending the development of a new [IPP/IFSP] for the [individual]. If these services and supports do not exist, the regional center shall convene a meeting to develop a new [IPP/IFSP] within 30 days. Prior to approval of the new [IPP/IFSP], the regional center shall provide alternative services and supports that best meet the individual program plan objectives in the least restrictive setting.” [Section 4643.5 (c)]

If your family moves out of California, your service coordinator and the Koch-Young Resource Center can help you contact the appropriate developmental services agency and locate related resources in the new state. With your written consent, the Regional Center can also transfer your records to that state’s agency.

Why is it important for my service coordinator to visit me in my home?

It is important for service coordinators to visit individuals and their families in their homes rather than another more public setting. Many of the issues discussed at a meeting are personal and private and it is difficult to maintain a desired level of privacy and confidentiality when these matters are discussed in a setting such as a coffee shop or restaurant. Additionally, it is essential for service coordinators to be familiar with an individual’s home situation so they can make the appropriate recommendations, especially in regards to in-home supports. The more they understand and know about you and your family, the better they are able to support you.

What should I include in my Lanterman Regional Center home file?

Basic information about you or your family member, such as special needs or medical conditions, so that others can provide consistent care.
A list with contact information of all the people, agencies, programs and organizations that are providing services to you or your family member.
A copy of the current Individual Program Plan and, if applicable, Individualized Education Program.
Copies of reports from independent assessments.
Copies of all written communication (including handwritten) to and from all professionals working with you or your family member.
A list of medications being taken at home, school or work as authorized by the physician. Include the medication name, dosage, time of day taken, and the prescription number and pharmacy. Also note changes in dosage and reactions to the change that you have observed.
Your notes (dated) about meetings or phone conversations with regional center staff, physicians and other professionals working with you or your family member. Also, be sure to include the name of the person with whom you spoke or met.

How should I organize my records?

It is helpful to divide records into subcategories, such as health, education and IPP, and organize them by date with the most recent on top.

It also helps to maintain a notebook containing copies of your most recent records that you can take with you to meetings and appointments. This notebook should include, at a minimum, two years of reports, evaluations and program plans.

What should I do if I do not know my service coordinator’s name?

If you do not know the name of your service coordinator, call the Regional Center at 213.383.1300 and ask the operator to transfer you to the secretary for the unit that is supporting you. If you don’t know the unit, let the operator know the client’s age and what city he or she lives in, and the operator will transfer you to the appropriate unit. Lanterman takes our responsibility to protect the privacy of our clients and their families very seriously, and you may be asked questions to confirm your identity.

Client and Family Services

What's On This Page