Special Education and Regional Center Blog

Beginning January 1, 2018, there will no longer be a cap on Regional Center respite services.

Background Information:

What is Respite?

Respite is a service that allows parents and guardians who care for a child or adult with a developmental disability to receive assistance in providing care.

California state law, AB 107, was passed in June 2017 effecting Regional Center clients under three years old (Early Start). The new law clarifies that for Early Start clients that the Regional Center must pay for needed therapy if the child’s health insurance will not cover the therapy, and if the therapy is identified in the child’s individualized family service plan (“IFSP”).

California state law, AB 107, was passed in June 2017 effecting Regional Center clients under three years old (Early Start). The new law clarifies that for Early Start clients that the Regional Center must pay for needed therapy if the child’s health insurance will not cover the therapy, and if the therapy is identified in the child’s individualized family service plan (“IFSP”).

The California Attorney General issued Opinion 14-101 on September 28, 2017. The Option states that the Administrative Procedure Act does not, authorize a party to a proceeding conducted by the Office of Administrative Hearings to be represented by a person who is not an active member of the California State Bar

​In general, the school district has an obligation to “identify, locate and evaluate” all children with disabilities who may be eligible for special education, including those who are attending private schools or are homeless or wards of the court. 34 Code of federal Regulations [C.F.R.] Sec. 300.111; California Education Code (Cal. Ed. Code) Secs. 56300 & 301. This is called “child find.”