Lanterman LACC

In 2020-21 the California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4620.4, awarded the Department of Developmental Services $16.7 million ongoing funding for all regional centers to improve and promote the Language Access and Cultural Competency (LACC) program to better support the diverse needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, their caregivers and their family members.

Lanterman Regional Center’s Language Access and Cultural Competency Plan includes the input and feedback our community has provided. Lanterman Regional Center aims to increase access and utilization of services for individuals served and their family, improve engagement and connection with regional centers, and provide more consistent access to information and resources for multi-lingual, mono-lingual and diverse cultures, ethnicities and languages.

Lanterman Regional Center’s initial LACC Plan included hiring two (2) Outreach Specialists and one (1) LACC Supervisor to oversee the implementation of the plan and assist the center in understanding the diverse cultural and linguistic needs of our community. Lanterman’s current plan reflects Fiscal Year 2026-2027 ($693,465) and 2027-2028 ($693,465), beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. The total allocation amount for two fiscal years is $1,386,930.00.

Lanterman’s current plan includes the following:

Project Summary

• Build internal capacity by implementing Cultural Humility training for staff to effectively engage with diverse communities.
• Enhance accessibility by updating and maintaining the Regional Center’s multilingual resources, website, social/print media, and materials.
• Host “Coffee with Lanterman”, New Family Orientation sessions and Resource Fairs to increase access to services for individuals and families.
• Offer parent education and training workshops to enhance person-centered planning for individuals served.
• Partner with Community-Based Organizations to conduct listening sessions, focus groups, and surveys, to gather feedback and tailor community engagement activities that reflect the diverse needs of the served population.
• Provide translation and interpretations services to better meet the local community’s needs.
• Retain multi-lingual staff (Two Outreach Specialists and LACC Supervisor to implement LACC activities.)

Ethnicity and Languages

Lanterman Regional Center’s LACC Plan serves its diverse community including Armenian, Asian, Black/African American, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Filipino. Hispanic/Latino, LGBTQIA+, indigenous communities, and Russian. Activities involve diverse languages including American Sign Language, Armenian, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog.

Main Activities:

• Improve language access and cultural competence by enhancing online access on the regional center’s website, social and print media, and publications.
• Provide translation and interpretation services to better meet the community’s needs.
• Host listening sessions, focus groups, and surveys, to gather feedback from community to understand challenges they face in accessing and using services.
• Promote language accessibility and cultural competency through outreach and engagement activities including hosting resource fairs and “Coffee with Lanterman” with Lanterman leadership staff and quarterly New Family Orientation sessions.
• Collaborate with community-based organizations by conducting engagement activities tailored for the diverse needs of the community.