California’s Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Lanterman Act) is the state law that gives eligible people with developmental disabilities the right to receive the services and supports they need to live as independently as possible in their communities, if those services and supports are available. This right applies from birth through the end of life.
Eligibility for the Lanterman Act
To be entitled to regional center services, someone must have a developmental disability: an intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or another condition closely related to intellectual disability or requiring similar treatment. The developmental disability also must start before the age of 18, be expected to be lifelong, and be considered a “substantial disability.” To determine if these eligibility criteria are met, regional centers provide assessments, and they review medical, psychological and developmental information.
Generic Services and Regional Center Services
Once a regional center determines that someone is eligible, the Lanterman Act establishes that person’s right to available regional center services. However, people first must use “generic services” before they can use services from regional centers.
Generic services are services that are the same or similar to regional center services, but generic services are provided by other agencies that are legally responsible to provide them. Examples of these other agencies include programs like Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), health insurance companies including managed health care plans, and K-12 education. This is why regional centers need to have information about Medi-Cal, IHSS, private health insurance, and Special Education. There is another article in this month’s newsletter about IHSS information and how it is used.
So, What Am I Entitled To?
In summary, eligible people have a right to services from regional centers. This right:
- requires a regional center to determine that someone is eligible, and
- exists only after generic services have been fully used, and
- is a right to choose from available regional center services, and
- services provided by regional centers must be cost-effective, and
- those services must be effective (also called “evidence-based”) in helping the individual achieve the goals in their Individual Program Plan.
More Information about the Lanterman Act
This article only discusses the Lanterman Act’s entitlement to services. The Lanterman Act also:
- requires the State of California to provide and coordinate services through California’s 21 non-profit regional centers,
- establishes the regional center system,
- outlines the rights of individuals, and
- requires person-centered planning and service delivery.
More information about the Lanterman Act is available in many languages in the Lanterman Act information packet on the Department’s website.