The Administration introduced a proposal during the May Revision of the state’s budget called the Equitable and Consistent Needs Assessment. There has been a lot of misinformation being shared about this proposal, which has caused confusion. We want to provide clear information to help you understand what the proposal actually does so you can decide what you think about it.

The name of the proposal has been updated to Equitable Access to Intake and Services to clarify that the proposal has two different parts. Both parts are designed to make the system more fair and consistent for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across California. You can see the latest version of the proposal and the fact sheet.

Here’s what it would do:

Make the Intake Eligibility Assessment Process the Same Everywhere

  • This does NOT change the eligibility rules. It only makes the process more fair.
  • No one will lose eligibility or services.
  • Currently, when someone applies for regional center services, each regional center uses different ways to decide if the person meets the definition of a developmental disability or a substantial disability.
  • The proposal would create one standard intake eligibility assessment process, so everyone is assessed the same way, no matter where they live.
  • The community will provide input on the standard intake eligibility assessment process, and the Legislature must approve before the Department can move forward.

Replace the Current Client Evaluations Diagnostic Report (CDER) With a New Strengths and Needs Evaluation

  • After someone is eligible, most regional centers use a tool called the CDER to understand a person’s needs. This happens every year, but the CDER is old and not very useful today. Regional centers also use the CDER in different ways.
  • The proposal would create a new, modern, and person‑centered evaluation of strengths and needs to better understand what each person needs.
  • This new evaluation will help Individual Program Plan (IPP) teams, not replace them. Planning teams will still decide which services and supports are best. The evaluation helps the IPP team know what strengths and needs require consideration.  IPP teams will still make decisions about services and how much of them.
  • The community will provide input on proposed evaluation, and the Legislature must approve the evaluation before the Department can replace the CDER.

What The Proposal Does NOT Do

  • It does NOT change eligibility definitions.
  • It does NOT take eligibility for Lanterman services away from anyone.
  • It does NOT limit person‑centered planning.
  • It does NOT cut costs or connect to Rate Reform.
  • It does NOT take the place of the IPP or the IPP meeting.

Why This Matters

The community spoke, and we are listening. The Master Plan for Developmental Services (MPDS), driven by the community, talked about the importance of having a reliable and equitable way to understand people’s needs and to measure if and how the developmental service system is meeting people’s needs. The MPDS also recommends standardizing not only intake, but intake eligibility assessments.

The Department heard the community, and this proposal is responding to the call to action.  These changes are meant to make the system more consistent, more fair, and more focused on each person’s needs—no matter where they live in California.

We look forward to your partnership in meeting these goals.


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