California recognized the 60th anniversary of the first two regional centers: Golden Gate Regional Center and Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center.
The milestone was honored through a resolution introduced by Senators Scott Wiener and Sasha Renée Pérez, and sponsored by the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA).
In 1966, California established the two pilot centers, laying the foundation for today’s regional center system. California’s 21 regional centers now serve nearly 500,000 Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across the State.
“Prior to the establishment of regional centers, approximately 13,000 Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities lived in state developmental centers, isolated from their families,” said Senator Wiener on the California State Senate floor on May 15, 2026. “California’s regional center system has become a model for the nation, establishing California as a leader in disability rights and community-based care.”
Watch Senator Wiener’s full speech below and learn more about the 60th anniversary celebration on ARCA’s Facebook page.