Special Education and Regional Center Blog

Way back in 2014, when I began volunteering at the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy, I have been told that the Self-Determination Program is coming. From that day, I started planning for my own daughter to enter the program. I have also become an Independent Facilitator to help families navigate the Self-Determination Program.  The big news that starting June 7, 2021, all regional center clients can choose to enter the Self-Determination Program. Here is a …

Continue reading “A Quick Overview of the Self-Determination Program”

Sometimes a regional center will require families to use their private insurance to pay for their child’s early intervention (“Early Start”) services. In general, regional centers are the payor of last resort and require parents to use their own health insurance to pay for therapies. Now, parents are not required to pay for premiums, co-payments, or deductibles when a regional center charges the parent’s insurance for Early Start services. Since 2009, California requires parents to …

Continue reading “No Copayments for Early Start Services”

I have read and re-read the Lanternman Act to put together this chart of Regional Center Timelines. I drafted it so I could have the timelines in one centeral place. I tried to make it as clear as possible, but it is still a bit confusing. For instance, the Lanternman Act references three types of days, “business days,” “working days,” and “days.”

Attention all Regional Center parents and consumers are you receiving all available services from the Regional Center? First, it is your right to receive all needed services that are identified in your IPP. Second, Self Determination is coming and it is important to maximize your budget. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities Los Angeles Office put together a trifold pamphlet to assist consumers. See https://scdd.ca.gov/. I have copied and pasted from their 3 to 18 pamphlet here:

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.