Welcome
Regional Center
❑ The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is responsible for designing and coordinating a wide array of services for California residents with developmental disabilities.
❑ Regional centers are nonprofit private corporations that contract with the Department of Developmental Services to provide or coordinate services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
❑ Regional Centers provide diagnosis and assessment of eligibility and help plan, access, coordinate, and monitor the services and supports that are needed because of a developmental disability.
❑ There is no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment. ❑ Payor of last resort
The process
The Lanterman Program is for individuals over the age of three. We will ask you to complete the intake interview and a psychological assessment. The intake process is a team effort and all participants, including the family members, are encouraged to respond to phone calls and emails in a timely manner. For individuals over the age of three and adults, the process must be completed within 120 days.
Once the assessments are done, an eligibility team will review all the information. You will be notified of the eligibility decision by your assigned intake counselor.
Who
Qualifies For
Lanterman
Services?
Diagnoses that may qualify a person for Regional Center services include the following developmental disabilities:
➢ Autism
➢ Cerebral Palsy
➢ Intellectual Disability
➢ Epilepsy
➢ Conditions closely related to, or that require
treatment similar to, that required for an
intellectual disability
In addition, to qualify for Regional Center services, a person’s developmental disability must originate prior to age 18, be expected to continue indefinitely, be a substantial disability-- person experiences significant limitations in three or more of the following areas:
Self-care
Self-direction
Receptive and expressive Language
Mobility
Capacity for Independent Living
Economic Self Sufficiency
https://westsiderc.org/intake/
Who
Qualifies For
Lanterman
Services?
Regional Center Services
❑ Case Management service coordinator (SC) will be assigned to develop annual (IPP) and assist with arranging appropriate services.
❑ Services are based on need and must be requested through the Individual Program Plan (IPP) process
❑ Behavior Intervention Services* Services are provided by specialists who offer training and instruction to assist families, individuals, and caregivers in developing positive strategies and techniques to manage behaviors. For those families with private insurance and Medi-Cal Managed Care, funding of behavior services will be based on current state / federal laws and regulations (see service coordinator for further funding details). Parent/caregiver participation is required.
❑ Behavior Intervention Co-Pay, Co-Insurance and Deductibles If your baby receives behavior intervention services funded by insurance, WRC is able to assist with insurance co-payments, coinsurance and deductibles should your family meet income requirements ( Welfare & Institutions Code 4659.1).
❑ Personal Assistance Some individuals require assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. WRC can offer these supports through Personal Assistance services.
Lanterman Services for 3 year +
❑ Crisis Prevention and Support WRC has a crisis response team to support individuals who are experiencing serious emotional or behavioral concerns. We recommend exploring on-going support and wellness checks before concerns escalate.
❑ Respite Services Parents and caregivers can receive periodic assistance with the constant care and supervision of children receiving regional center services in order to relieve family stress or cope with family emergencies. ❑ Day Care Supports (Specialized Supervision) Parents who are working or in school full-time may be eligible for assistance to provide supervision primarily during after-school hours and /or during school breaks. ❑ Social Skills These programs help to improve interpersonal skills, social interactions and pragmatic language.
❑ Social Rec. Regional centers can offer various ways for consumers to have recreational opportunities and promote wellness through various methods.
1. Camping services and associated travel expenses (examples: day camps and overnight camps)
2. Social Recreational Activities (examples: Mommy and Me programs, enrichment programs, swimming, sports clubs, and gymnastics)
3. Education services for children 3 to 17 years of age (examples: tutoring, homework assistance, college prep programs)
4. Non-Medical Therapies (examples: Specialized Art Therapy, Dance Therapy, Music Therapy, Equestrian Therapy)
❑ Medical Equipment* Families can access medically necessary equipment through referrals to Medi-Cal, private insurance, or other generic sources such as California Children Services (CCS). WRC, as payer of last resort, may provide funding for equipment needs as determined through consultation with WRC specialists. ❑ Adaptive Skills Training (AST) focuses on enhancing an individual’s abilities in areas such as communication, social functioning, money management, food preparation, mobility, and other skills necessary for independent living. The service is intended for individuals whose skill deficits are not already addressed by other services ❑ Conferences WRC may fund for tuition or conference registration fees up to a maximum of $300 for training and conferences annually. Funding for parents or caregivers does not cover the cost of lodging or transportation. Check with your service coordinator or WRFEC to inquire about training and conference opportunities.
❑ Written Translations and Interpretations WRC offers written translation services for Individual Program Plans (IPPs) when the family’s primary language is not English.
Interpretation services.
❑ Post-Secondary Education & Employment Readiness WRC partners with post-secondary programs and supports to assist individuals with continuing education, employment readiness and career matching. This may include assistance in obtaining vocational certification, a degree or specialized training in a job field.
❑ We also often refer individuals to the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for additional support.
❑ Independent Living Services (ILS) Adults can receive training in independent living skills in areas such as shopping, cooking, budgeting, housekeeping, and self-care. Services may be funded for individuals living outside of the family home or when specific and time-measured independent living goals are included in the Individual Program Plan. ❑ Supported Living Services (SLS) SLS is an individualized service that provides staff to assist and train individuals living on their own in all aspects of their lives. SLS is required to provide 24 hour a day emergency assistance in addition to on-going supports. Individuals are eligible for SLS as long as they have the funds for rent, food and utilities ❑ Coordinated Family Services (CFS) Coordinated Family Support is available for adults ages 18 and over who choose to live in their family home. CFS assists with developing skills in the home, coordinating services, and helping individuals access their community.
Groups
❑ Healthy Lifestyles The Healthy Lifestyles Program helps individuals improve their health and wellness through healthy diet and positive lifestyle changes. The groups that meet 3 times per week at WRC also provide an opportunity for adults to socialize and network.
❑ Peer Mentor Services WRC offers adults “peer-to-peer” training through the Peer Mentor Agency. Peer mentors are trained and employed to offer mobility training and independent living support to other individuals receiving WRC services ❑ Self-Advocacy Groups Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) hosts a number of self advocacy groups located throughout WRC’s service area. Visit www.westsiderc.org for dates and locations.
❑ Transportation WRC offers various transportation choices: For adults who wish to travel independently within the community.
❑ mobility training may be available to help clients use public transportation safely. ❑ Individuals able to use public transportation may request funding for the cost of bus passes.
❑ WRC may fund commercial transportation to and from the primary, regularly scheduled daytime activity for individuals who exited the school system. *It must be determined that there is no other source of transportation via generic public services or natural, paid or unpaid, resource systems.
❑ Driver’s training may also be an option for individuals receiving WRC supports who pass a written driving test and have access to an insured vehicle. WRC may assist with funding of additional hours.
Services By Age
https://westsiderc.org/services/
https://westsiderc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2026/03/ServicesAndSupports_03to10_Trifold_may2 025_V04.pdf
https://westsiderc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/11-17- Brochure.pdf
https://westsiderc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2026/03/ServicesAndSupports_18to22_Trifold_may2 025_V04.pdf