Support and Advocacy
What's On This Page
Peer Support Partners
Our peer support partners are experienced and trained, and work in partnership with individuals by assisting with advocacy and support needs.
We can match you with your Peer Support Partner. Start by filling out our short questionnaire.
Self-Advocacy Groups
Self-advocacy groups provide a forum for clients to meet, become informed, and voice their opinions on the latest policies affecting the Lanterman community as well as personal issues.
At least once a year, members from Self-Advocacy groups form focus groups that respond to specific issues the Regional Center would like input on. The following is a listing of the current active groups, however, if none of these are in your area, talk to your family, your residential care provider, or someone at the Regional Center about starting a group in your area.
If you would like more information on Lanterman’s self-advocacy groups, please contact the Koch-Young Resource Center at 213.383.1300, ext. 5600, (800) 546-3676, or kyrc@lanterman.org.
Consumer Advisory Committee
Providing input, advice and counsel on policies, services and programs for clients and families offered by Lanterman Regional Center.
Support Groups - Someone Cares
Local Family/Client Support Groups
Support groups create a comfortable environment where people can meet, share information and resources with peers and offer each other emotional support.
The support groups directly affiliated with Lanterman are co-led by families and Lanterman staff as part of a family-professional partnership. Currently there are more than 25 active support groups in the Lanterman community. We strive to meet the needs of families with a diverse range of groups, including groups for non-English speaking families, families of children with specific developmental disabilities, families of children in specific age ranges, groups specifically for fathers or siblings, and groups based on important issues like inclusion.
Lanterman also makes referrals to local, state and national groups on a variety of issues, and provides technical assistance for the development of new and existing groups.
The following is a listing of all existing support groups in our community. Click on the support group name for more information including dates, times and contacts.
Download a printable directory of available support groups:
Lanterman/KYRC Support Groups
Click on group name for more details and information
Armenian Parent Support Group
For Armenian-speaking families who have children with special needs of all ages.
[in Armenian and English]
Black Families Support Group
For families and individuals from the Black community who are served by the Lanterman Regional Center
Chinese Parent Support Group
For Chinese-speaking families who have children with special needs of all ages. [in Chinese]
De Mi Familia A Su Familia
Grupo para familias con ninos de todos edades con autismo. [en Espanol]
Filipino Parents Support Group
For parents and caretakers of children with special needs of all ages and disabilities.
Grupo de Apoyo Lanterman
Para familias con niños de todas edades con necesidades especiales. [en Espanol]
Korean Parent Support Group
For Korean-speaking families of individuals with special needs of all ages and disabilities. [in Korean]
La Esperanza
Para familias con ninos con discapacidades del desarrollo de edades 15 anos y mayores. [en Espanol]
Padres Unidos Lanterman
Para familias con ninos con discapacidades del desarrollo de todas las edades. [en Espanol]
Parents Collaborate Support Group
For parents of individuals with special needs of all ages and disabilities. [in English]
Russian Parent Support Group
For families of individuals with developmental disabilities of all ages. [in Russian]
Self-Determination Program (SDP) Support Group
For FDLRC families participating in or interested in SDP. [in English]
Sibshops
Workshops for siblings between the ages of 8-14 of children with special needs served by the regional center. [in English]
Community Support Groups
Armenian Autism Outreach Project - AAOP
For families of children with developmental disabilities of all ages. [in Armenian]
California Sibling Leadership Network
For adult siblings of brothers and sisters with special needs. [in English]
Club 21 Learning and Resource Center
Learning, social and support programs for families with children of all ages with Down syndrome. [in English]
Down Syndrome Parent Resource Network
San Gabriel Valley Sub-group of the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA)
For families of children with Down syndrome. [en Espanol]
Epilepsy Foundation
For parents of children with epilepsy of all ages. [in English and Spanish]
Foothill Autism Alliance - Network Resource Meetings
Educational group for families of children with autism. [in English]
Inclusive Sol
Services, community connections, and more for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
Japanese-Speaking Parents Association of Children with Challenges
For families of individuals with special needs of all ages.
Peer 2 Peer Group
For clients with special needs over the age of 18 years. Must be able to be in community and be independent with personal care. [in English]
Rainbow Connection Social Group
Connect with LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities
Sibling Saturday
Recreational support group for sibilings ages 5 to 12 of individuals with developmental disabilities. [in English]
Super Dads
A father support group hosted by Angel-Lena, Inc. for special needs families, designed to give dads a space to connect, share, and build community.
TACA ~ The Autism Community in Action
Parent meetings that feature educational speakers on important topics and peer support for parents of chidlren with autism. [in English]