Individuals & Families

As we navigate challenges due to COVID-19, DDS will continue working to find new ways to support our consumers, families, providers, staff and communities. All regional centers are open for business, although some regional center staff may be working remotely and not holding face-to-face meetings in their offices. Use the phone number or e-mail address you normally use to contact your service coordinator if you have questions about your services.

DDS has learned that some families received calls from people pretending to be regional center employees. Regional center staff will never ask for banking information, social security information, or credit card information over the phone and you should not provide it to anyone who calls you. If you are unsure if the call is real, hang up and contact your local regional center directly.

For information about the COVID-19 Vaccine, please visit the Vaccine & Testing page of the DDS website or visit COVID19.CA.GOV.

Our days look very different because of the changes we are making to keep people safe. We will keep you informed of changes and updates. Please stay safe, stay healthy, and help take care of each other.

Self-Advocate and Family Member Informational Meetings

DDS invites you to attend a self-advocate and family member informational event. This virtual event will include an update from DDS, information about Participant-Directed Services and provide the opportunity to hear from you. The presentations will be in English with simultaneous Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog and American Sign Language interpretation.

Questions? Please email: FamilyInput@dds.ca.gov.

Family Member Engagement Guide

The Family Member Engagement Guide is a tool that families can use to discuss services and supports with service providers and their regional center (RC). This guide helps you know what questions to think about so that you can discuss your family member’s RC service needs; flexibility and innovation of services while maintaining safety; and how to make choices that are best for them during the COVID-19 pandemic. You may use all or some of your answers when you talk with your RC and service provider.

Health Passport

If you get sick, you might need to see a doctor by yourself. Your family or your caregiver can help you fill out a Health Passport to take with you. A Health Passport is a piece of paper that tells doctors about you, your medical needs, and how to keep you safe.

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

DDS has prepared Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to assist our community with answers about the State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak and services and supports for the individuals we serve.

The questions come from the emails received through the DDSC19@dds.ca.gov email. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please email us so we can update our documents and get you the answers you need. The answers are based on DDS Directives and the Governor’s Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 State of Emergency.  For more information about COVID-19, please:

  • Contact your regional center service coordinator. The regional center contact information can be found here.
  • Contact your local county department of public health. You can find contact information here.
  • Visit The Centers for Disease Control website.

Assistance & Resources

Mental Health Resources

Videos

Websites

Directive Summaries

Information on Receiving Regional Center Services

Information from other State Departments

Disclaimer

The resources provided on this website are only intended to assist individuals, families, caregivers, regional centers and vendors during the COVID-19 crisis. Unless specified in a waiver or directive issued by the Director of the Department of Developmental Services and/or the Department of Public Health in response to COVID-19, the use of resources on this website does not replace applicable law and regulations regarding information given to hospitals or emergency care, and does not otherwise guarantee the use of these resources.
The inclusion of external website links to resources does not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation of material at the linked sites, their content or the services provided. The Department of Developmental Services accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of external websites or external documents linked to on this website.
When you select a link to an external website, you are leaving the Department of Developmental Services’ domain and are subject to the privacy policies of the external website.

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Last modified: April 29, 2023