Dept. Dev. Services

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

The Department of Developmental Services (Regional Centers)

When you think independent living, think the Department of Developmental Services aka Regional Center. The main transition focus of regional center, is assisting individuals with developmental disabilities to live as independently as possible. However, eligibility for regional center services begins at birth, as there are other services that the agency provides.

Eligibility Criteria - To be eligible for regional center, you must have a developmental disability. Developmental disability is one which occurs prior to age 18, and is defined as meeting one of the following criteria:

mental retardation

cerebral palsy

epilepsy

autism

other handicapping condition found to be closely related to mental retardation or to require treatment similar to that required for mentally retarded individuals

Case management services are provided by a case manager, according to an individual program plan (IPP). As with the Department of Rehabilitation, independent living services are contracted with community living vendors. Case managers will monitor their clients' situations, although day to day services such as budgeting, travel training, and other services are provided by vendors.

Regional centers offer a wide variety of services which include, medical and dental care, recreation planning, vocational planning, day care, speech therapy, behavior modification, residential care, transportation, respite care services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, individual program planning, counseling, court-ordered evaluations, guardianship services, advocacy, case management services, diagnostic services, independent or functional living skills training, residential placement, funding to participate in various community based programs.

Transition Issues - Regional center, due to its governing regulations, is hesitant to pay for anything that another agency will potentially pay for. So for example, parents have at times had to hassle over services if their disabled child left school prior to age 22, and wanted services from regional center. "Go back to the school because you are still eligible for services there" might be the response. Regional center's advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities although most often is wonderful, is at times over the edge. One can take issues like person centered planning and personal choice too far, particularly when dealing with individuals with impaired cognitive functioning.

To its credit, regional center is intimately involved in the lives of thousands of moderately to severely disabled individuals (in the Inland Empire alone, IRC serves close to 15,000 persons). The regional center is a strong advocate. Without parents and families, regional center may be the only advocate, the only monitor, in short the only lifeline that individuals with moderate to severe disabilities may have.

You can email Dr. McNair at jmcnair@calbaptist.edu